Kinds of Brahmins and the King's Dues from Them

Verse 1 (12.76.1)

स्वकर्मण्यपरे युक्तास्तथैवान्ये विकर्मणि । तेषां विशेषमाचक्ष्व ब्राह्मणानां पितामह ॥

svakarmaṇyapare yuktāstathaivānye vikarmaṇi | teṣāṃ viśeṣamācakṣva brāhmaṇānāṃ pitāmaha

Some Brahmins are intent on their own proper duty, others on forbidden acts. Describe the difference between them to me, grandfather.

Verse 2 (12.76.2)

विद्यालक्षणसंपन्नाः सर्वत्राम्नायदर्शिनः । एते ब्रह्मसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणाः परिकीर्तिताः ॥

vidyālakṣaṇasaṃpannāḥ sarvatrāmnāyadarśinaḥ | ete brahmasamā rājanbrāhmaṇāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

Those endowed with learning and its marks, who see the sacred tradition in everything, are called, O king, Brahmins equal to Brahman.

Verse 3 (12.76.3)

ऋत्विगाचार्यसंपन्नाः स्वेषु कर्मस्ववस्थिताः । एते देवसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत ॥

ṛtvigācāryasaṃpannāḥ sveṣu karmasvavasthitāḥ | ete devasamā rājanbrāhmaṇānāṃ bhavantyuta

Those who are priests and teachers and stay firm in their own duties are, O king, among Brahmins the equals of the gods.

Verse 4 (12.76.4)

गोऽजाविमहिषाणां च बडवानां च पोषकाः । वृत्त्यर्थं प्रतिपद्यन्ते तान्वैश्यान्संप्रचक्षते ॥

go'jāvimahiṣāṇāṃ ca baḍavānāṃ ca poṣakāḥ | vṛttyarthaṃ pratipadyante tānvaiśyānsaṃpracakṣate

Those who tend cattle, goats, sheep, buffaloes and mares, and take up this work for their livelihood, are called Vaishyas.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick opening the passage. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension): lines 1-2 are the CE star passage 12.77.004d*0189_01-02 (printed after 12.77.4). ce_ref is that of the CE verse after which the star is printed.

Verse 5 (12.76.5)

ऐश्वर्यकामा ये चापि सामिषा वाऽपि भारत । निग्रहानुग्रहरतांस्तान्द्विजान्क्षत्रियान्विदुः ॥

aiśvaryakāmā ye cāpi sāmiṣā vā'pi bhārata | nigrahānugraharatāṃstāndvijānkṣatriyānviduḥ

And those twice-born, O Bharata, who crave authority and eat meat, and delight in punishing and in showing favour, are known as Kshatriyas.

Note on the text: Corrected सामिपा → सामिषा (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; CE sāmiṣārthāś ca). Lines 1-2 are the CE star passage 12.77.004d*0189_03-04 (aiśvaryakāmā ye cāpi sāmiṣārthāś ca bhārata / nigrahānugraharatāṃs tān dvijān kṣatriyān viduḥ), not in the CE's constituted text.

Verse 6 (12.76.6)

अश्वारोहा गजारोहा रथिनोऽथ पदातयः । एते वैश्यसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत ॥

aśvārohā gajārohā rathino'tha padātayaḥ | ete vaiśyasamā rājanbrāhmaṇānāṃ bhavantyuta

Horsemen, elephant-riders, charioteers and foot-soldiers: these, O king, are among Brahmins the equals of Vaishyas.

Note on the text: Lines 1-2 are CE 12.77.5ac. Wikisource follows them with the lines that the CE prints as its Appendix I passage (see the next verses).

Verse 7 (12.76.7)

जन्मकर्मविहीना ये कदर्या ब्रह्मबन्धवः । एते शूद्रसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत ॥

janmakarmavihīnā ye kadaryā brahmabandhavaḥ | ete śūdrasamā rājanbrāhmaṇānāṃ bhavantyuta

Those devoid of the duties proper to their birth, the miserly, Brahmins in name only: these, O king, are among Brahmins the equals of Shudras.

Verse 8 (12.76.8)

अश्रोत्रियाः सर्वे एते सर्वे चानाहिताग्नयः । तान्सर्वान्धार्मिको राजा बलिं विष्टिं च कारयेत् ॥

aśrotriyāḥ sarve ete sarve cānāhitāgnayaḥ | tānsarvāndhārmiko rājā baliṃ viṣṭiṃ ca kārayet

All these are without Vedic learning and have not set up the sacred fires; the righteous king should make all of them pay tribute and perform forced labour.

Verse 9 (12.76.9)

आह्वायका देवलका नाक्षत्रा ग्रामयाजकाः । एते ब्राह्मणचाण्डाला महापथिकपञ्चमाः ॥

āhvāyakā devalakā nākṣatrā grāmayājakāḥ | ete brāhmaṇacāṇḍālā mahāpathikapañcamāḥ

Summoners, hired temple-priests, astrologers and village priests: these are Brahmin-chandalas, with the wayfarers of the great road as the fifth.

Verse 10 (12.76.10)

ऋत्विक्पुरोहितो मन्त्री दूतो वार्तानुकर्षकः । एते क्षत्रसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत ॥

ṛtvikpurohito mantrī dūto vārtānukarṣakaḥ | ete kṣatrasamā rājanbrāhmaṇānāṃ bhavantyuta

A priest, a household priest, a minister, an envoy, and a gatherer of news: these, O king, are among Brahmins the equals of Kshatriyas.

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets round the verse and the doubled daṇḍa inside them. A variant of CE 12.77.4 (the CE reads दूतोऽथार्थानुशासकः in line 1); Wikisource prints it after the verse corresponding to 12.77.8, out of the CE's order.

Verse 11 (12.76.11)

म्लेच्छदेशाश्च ये केचित्पापैरध्युषिता नरैः । गत्वा तु ब्राह्मणस्तांश्च चण्डालः प्रेत्य चेह च ॥

mlecchadeśāśca ye kecitpāpairadhyuṣitā naraiḥ | gatvā tu brāhmaṇastāṃśca caṇḍālaḥ pretya ceha ca

And any lands inhabited by sinful men, the barbarian regions: a Brahmin who goes there becomes a chandala, here and after death.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick opening the passage. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 9, printed after 12.77.5 as 12.77.005d@009_0001-0021, 21 lines): lines 0001-0002 (identical wording). Wikisource divides the passage into verses differently.

Verse 12 (12.76.12)

व्रात्यान्म्लेच्छांश्च शूद्रांश्च याजयित्वा द्विजाधमः । अकीर्तिमिह संप्राप्य नरकं प्रतिपद्यते ॥

vrātyānmlecchāṃśca śūdrāṃśca yājayitvā dvijādhamaḥ | akīrtimiha saṃprāpya narakaṃ pratipadyate

A lowest-born Brahmin who performs sacrifices for outcastes, barbarians and Shudras gains disgrace here and goes to hell.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 9, printed after 12.77.5 as 12.77.005d@009_0001-0021, 21 lines): lines 0003-0004.

Verse 13 (12.76.13)

महावृन्दसमुद्राभ्यां पर्यायेणैकविंशतिम् । ब्राह्मणो ऋग्यजुः साम्नां मूढः कृत्वा तु विप्लवम् ॥

mahāvṛndasamudrābhyāṃ paryāyeṇaikaviṃśatim | brāhmaṇo ṛgyajuḥ sāmnāṃ mūḍhaḥ kṛtvā tu viplavam

A deluded Brahmin who commits a perversion of the Rig, Yajur and Sama mantras passes in turn twenty-one times through Mahavrinda and Samudra,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 9, printed after 12.77.5 as 12.77.005d@009_0001-0021, 21 lines): lines 0005-0006.

Verse 14 (12.76.14)

कल्पमेकं कृमिस्थोऽथ नानाविष्ठासु जायते । व्रात्ये म्लेच्छे तथा शूद्रे तस्करे पतितेऽशुचौ ॥

kalpamekaṃ kṛmistho'tha nānāviṣṭhāsu jāyate | vrātye mlecche tathā śūdre taskare patite'śucau

and for one whole kalpa lives as a worm and is born in all manner of filth, if he does so for a vratya, a barbarian, a Shudra, a thief, a fallen man or an impure man,

Note on the text: Corrected पत्तिते → पतिते (misprint in Wikisource; doubled त; CE patite). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 9, printed after 12.77.5 as 12.77.005d@009_0001-0021, 21 lines): lines 0007-0008.

Verse 15 (12.76.15)

कुदेशे च सुरापे च ब्रह्मघ्ने वृषलीपतौ । अनधीतेषु सर्वत्र भुञ्जाने यत्र तत्र वा ॥

kudeśe ca surāpe ca brahmaghne vṛṣalīpatau | anadhīteṣu sarvatra bhuñjāne yatra tatra vā

in an evil country, for a drunkard, a killer of a Brahmin, a husband of a low-caste woman, among the unlearned anywhere, or for one who eats just anywhere,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 9, printed after 12.77.5 as 12.77.005d@009_0001-0021, 21 lines): lines 0009-0010.

Verse 16 (12.76.16)

बालस्त्रीवृद्धहन्तुश्च मातापित्रोर्गुरोस्तथा । मित्रद्रुहि कृतघ्ने च गोघ्ने चैव कथंचन ॥

bālastrīvṛddhahantuśca mātāpitrorgurostathā | mitradruhi kṛtaghne ca goghne caiva kathaṃcana

for a killer of a child, a woman or an old person, of his mother, father or teacher, for a betrayer of friends, an ungrateful man, or in any way a killer of a cow,

Note on the text: Corrected वालस्त्रीवृद्धहन्तुश्च → बालस्त्रीवृद्धहन्तुश्च (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब; बाल (child), CE bālastrīvṛddhahantuś ca). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 9, printed after 12.77.5 as 12.77.005d@009_0001-0021, 21 lines): lines 0011-0012.

Verse 17 (12.76.17)

पुत्रघातिनि शत्रौ च न मन्त्राद्याजयेद्द्विजः । स तेषां विप्लवः प्रोक्तो मन्त्रविद्भिः सनातनैः ॥

putraghātini śatrau ca na mantrādyājayeddvijaḥ | sa teṣāṃ viplavaḥ prokto mantravidbhiḥ sanātanaiḥ

or for the killer of a son, or an enemy: a twice-born must not officiate with mantras for any of these. That is called the perversion of the mantras by the eternal knowers of mantras.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 9, printed after 12.77.5 as 12.77.005d@009_0001-0021, 21 lines): lines 0013-0014 (the CE reads न मन्त्रान्योजयेद्द्विजः, Wikisource न मन्त्राद्याजयेद्द्विजः; a recension variant, kept).

Verse 18 (12.76.18)

यदि विप्रो विदेशस्थस्तीर्थयात्रां गतोऽपि वा । यदि भीतः प्रपन्नो वा कुदेशं शौचवर्जितम् ॥

yadi vipro videśasthastīrthayātrāṃ gato'pi vā | yadi bhītaḥ prapanno vā kudeśaṃ śaucavarjitam

But if a Brahmin is in a foreign land or has gone on pilgrimage, or if, in fear or seeking refuge, he is in an unclean, evil country,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 9, printed after 12.77.5 as 12.77.005d@009_0001-0021, 21 lines): lines 0015-0016.

Verse 19 (12.76.19)

सुसंयतः शुचिर्भूत्वा मन्त्रानुच्चारयेद्द्विजः । आर्तश्चोच्चारयेन्मन्त्रमार्तत्राणपरोऽथवा । हीनेष्वपि प्रयुञ्जानो नासौ विप्लावकः स्मृतः ॥

susaṃyataḥ śucirbhūtvā mantrānuccārayeddvijaḥ | ārtaścoccārayenmantramārtatrāṇaparo'thavā | hīneṣvapi prayuñjāno nāsau viplāvakaḥ smṛtaḥ

then, well restrained and made pure, the twice-born may utter the mantras. Or he may utter a mantra when in distress or intent on rescuing the distressed. One who uses them even for the low is not called a perverter.

Note on the text: Corrected सुसयतः → सुसंयतः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvāra; CE susaṃyataḥ). Corrected शुचिर्भुत्वा → शुचिर्भूत्वा (misprint in Wikisource; short ु for long ू; CE bhūtvā). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 9, printed after 12.77.5 as 12.77.005d@009_0001-0021, 21 lines): lines 0017-0019.

Verse 20 (12.76.20)

क्रूरकर्मा विकर्मा वा कर्मभिर्वञ्चितोऽथवा । तत्त्ववित्तरते पापं शीलवान्संयतेन्द्रियः ॥

krūrakarmā vikarmā vā karmabhirvañcito'thavā | tattvavittarate pāpaṃ śīlavānsaṃyatendriyaḥ

Whether he is of cruel deeds or wrongful deeds, or cheated by his own acts, one who knows the truth, of good conduct and with senses restrained, crosses beyond sin.

Note on the text: Corrected सयतेन्द्रियः → संयतेन्द्रियः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvāra; CE saṃyatendriyaḥ). Removed the stray apostrophe and the doubled daṇḍa printed at the end. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 9, printed after 12.77.5 as 12.77.005d@009_0001-0021, 21 lines): lines 0020-0021 (the CE reads सुकर्मा for Wikisource's विकर्मा). Here the passage closes.

Verse 21 (12.76.21)

एतेभ्यो बलिमादद्याद्धीनकोशो महीपतिः । ऋते ब्रह्मसमेभ्यश्च देवकल्पेभ्य एव च ॥

etebhyo balimādadyāddhīnakośo mahīpatiḥ | ṛte brahmasamebhyaśca devakalpebhya eva ca

A king whose treasury is depleted may take tribute from these, except from those equal to Brahman and those like the gods.

Verse 22 (12.76.22)

अब्राह्मणानां वित्तस्य स्वामी राजेति नः श्रुतिः । ब्राह्मणानां च ये केचिद्विकर्मस्था इति श्रुतिः । प्रागुक्तांश्चाप्यनुक्तांश्च सर्वांस्तान्दापयेत्करान् ॥

abrāhmaṇānāṃ vittasya svāmī rājeti naḥ śrutiḥ | brāhmaṇānāṃ ca ye kecidvikarmasthā iti śrutiḥ | prāguktāṃścāpyanuktāṃśca sarvāṃstāndāpayetkarān

The king is lord of the wealth of non-Brahmins, so scripture is for us, and of those Brahmins, whoever they may be, who are engaged in forbidden acts, so scripture says. He should make all of them pay taxes, both those named before and those not named.

Note on the text: Corrected येकेचिद् → ये केचिद् (misprint in Wikisource; two words run together; CE ye ke cid). Corrected सर्वास्तान् → सर्वांस्तान् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvāra; the masculine accusative is needed with करान्, CE sarvāṃs tān). Removed the backtick and the quote mark round line 3. Lines 1-2 are CE 12.77.10 (a variant: the CE reads वैदिकम् and भवन्त्युत); line 3 is the CE star line 12.77.010d*0190_01 (prāg uktāṃś cāpy anuktāṃś ca sarvāṃs tān dāpayet karān), not in the CE's constituted text.

Verse 23 (12.76.23)

विकर्मस्थाश्च नोपेक्ष्या विप्रा राज्ञा कथंचन । नियम्याः संविभज्याश्च धर्मानुग्रहकाम्यया ॥

vikarmasthāśca nopekṣyā viprā rājñā kathaṃcana | niyamyāḥ saṃvibhajyāśca dharmānugrahakāmyayā

A king must on no account neglect Brahmins who are engaged in forbidden acts; they are to be restrained and also provided for, out of a wish to uphold dharma.

Verse 24 (12.76.24)

यस्य स्म विषये राज्ञः स्तेनो भवति वै द्विजः । राज्ञ एवापराधं तं मन्यन्ते तद्विदो जनाः ॥

yasya sma viṣaye rājñaḥ steno bhavati vai dvijaḥ | rājña evāparādhaṃ taṃ manyante tadvido janāḥ

If a Brahmin becomes a thief in a king's realm, those who know the matter hold the king himself to blame for that offence.

Verse 25 (12.76.25)

अवृत्त्या यो भवेत्स्तेनो वेदवित्स्नातकस्तथा । राजन्स राज्ञा भर्तव्य इति वेदविदो विदुः ॥

avṛttyā yo bhavetsteno vedavitsnātakastathā | rājansa rājñā bhartavya iti vedavido viduḥ

A Brahmin learned in the Veda, a snataka, who has become a thief for lack of livelihood, must be supported by the king, O king; so those who know the Veda say.

Verse 26 (12.76.26)

स चेन्नापि निवर्तेत कृतवृत्तिः परन्तप । ततो निर्वासनीयः स्यात्तस्माद्देशात्सबान्धवः ॥

sa cennāpi nivarteta kṛtavṛttiḥ parantapa | tato nirvāsanīyaḥ syāttasmāddeśātsabāndhavaḥ

If, though given a livelihood, he still does not turn back, O scorcher of foes, then he should be banished from that land together with his kinsmen.

Verse 27 (12.76.27)

यज्ञः श्रुतमपैशुन्यमहिंसाऽतिथिपूजनम् । दमः सत्यं तपो दानमेतद्ब्राह्मणलक्षणम् ॥

yajñaḥ śrutamapaiśunyamahiṃsā'tithipūjanam | damaḥ satyaṃ tapo dānametadbrāhmaṇalakṣaṇam

Sacrifice, sacred learning, freedom from malice, non-violence, honouring guests, self-control, truthfulness, austerity and giving: these are the marks of a Brahmin.

Note on the text: Corrected पैशुन्यमर्हिसाऽ → पैशुन्यमहिंसाऽ (misprint in Wikisource; र्हि for हिं, a garbled anusvāra; CE ahiṃsā). Removed the backtick and the quote mark round the verse. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension): the CE star passage 12.77.014d*0191_01-02, printed after 12.77.14.